Happy Halloween! In October, the Joint Center released the results of our survey on The Use of Digital Tools by Black & Latino Businessesat an event on Capitol Hill. We also partnered with the National Urban League to co-author a policy brief on race and the future of work, and traveled to Silicon Valley to speak at a Google Civil Rights Symposium. Details below.

Joint Center Releases Data on Use of Digital Tools by Businesses of Color: On Tuesday, October 24, the Joint Center hosted a lunch briefing on Capitol Hill to release results from our new survey on The Use of Digital Tools by Black and Latino Businesses. The briefing featured remarks by several Members, including Rep. Nydia Velazquez (Ranking Member, House Small Business Committee), Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (Ranking Member, House Committee on Science, Space and Technology), Rep. Dwight Evans (Ranking Member, House Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access), Rep. Gregory Meeks (Senior Member, House Financial Services Committee), and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (Member, House Education and Workforce Committee). Other speakers included Google Strategic Partnerships & Outreach Counsel Chanelle Hardy, Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce Founder Tayde Aburto, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. President & CEO Ron Busby, Sr., and U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce VP of Corporate Affairs Sebastian Ontiveros.

The Joint Center conducted the survey in partnership with the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. and U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Ron Busby, Jr., Morgan Butler, and Mia L. Woodard wrote our data brief aggregating the most pressing results. The Joint Center will soon release a comprehensive report on Black and Latino businesses and the Internet Economy. This report will provide an extensive overview of the current landscape for Black and Latino businesses, as well as the landscape of available digital tools that are helping businesses grow from sole proprietors to job creators. Most important, our report will examine how Black and Latino entrepreneurs can capitalize on technological advancements to not only stay competitive in the new economy, but to leapfrog ahead. Read the full data brief here.

Joint Center Hosts Live Case Study Panel at USHCC Convention: On October 3, 2017, the Joint Center partnered with Google to host a live case study panel on digital technology use by Latino businesses during the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Convention in Dallas, TX. The panel was coordinated and attended by Joint Center Managing Editor Mia Woodard and featured remarks from Millard McElwee, author of the Joint Center’s upcoming report on Black and Latino businesses and the Internet Economy. The panel was moderated by Ray Casas and also featured remarks from TAGit Founder and CEO Ana Bermudez, Cacique Inc. CEO Gil de Cardenas, and Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce Founder Tayde Aburto. Panelists shared experiences regarding their own use of digital platforms and tools to scale their businesses.

Joint Center Partners with National Urban League on Future of Work Policy Brief: On Tuesday, October 24, the National Urban League hosted a panel on “Future of Work: The Impact of the Tech Revolution on People of Color” at the U.S. Senate. The Joint Center and the National Urban League teamed up to present a co-authored draft policy brief that found that 27 percent of all African American workers are concentrated in just 30 occupations at high risk to automation (drivers, cashiers, security guards, and more). Compared to White workers, African American workers are almost four times more likely to be taxi drivers and chauffeurs, over three times more likely to be bus drivers, and over three times more likely to be security guards. The final policy brief will be released in the upcoming weeks. Read more here.

The Future of Work of Blacks in Energy: On Tuesday, October 17, Joint Center President Spencer Overton spoke on the “Workforce of the Future” at AABE’s Energy Policy Summit. The panel was moderated by Chevron Pipeline Company Vice President Telisa Toliver. Other panelists included National Urban League Senior Vice President for Policy & Vice President of the Washington Bureau Don Cravins, Jr., California Independent Petroleum Producers Director of Government Affairs P. Anthony Thomas, and Stinson Leonard Street Partner Russell Frisby, Jr. Read more here.

Joint Center Travels to Silicon Valley: On October 25-26, Joint Center President Spencer Overton travelled to Silicon Valley to speak to Google employees at their Civil Rights Symposium along with U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Chair Catherine Lhamon, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights President and CEO Vanita Gupta, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Policy Director Kim Tignor, and several others. Spencer also travelled to Oakland and met with Kapor Center for Social Impact Chief of Community Engagement Cedric Brown and Chief Technology Community Officer Lili Gangas about the future of work in African American communities.

Joint Center Hosts Diversity Talks on the Hill: On October 27, the Joint Center organized two convenings that brought together senior Democratic and Republican staffers to discuss diversity with leaders from the corporate and public sector. The small group discussions allowed for chiefs of staff, legislative directors, and administrative directors to hear from executives about their experiences on how to diversify their workplaces and gain insights on which applications may be appropriate for the Senate.

Diversity & human resources professionals from Citigroup, Microsoft, United Technologies, Wilmer Hale law firm, General Motors, the City of Philadelphia, and Centene Corporation participated. The event had the goal of creating constructive channels between this network of experts and Senate staff that can be leveraged in future discussions as Senate offices take action to increase diversity and inclusion.

Thank you Rich: Rich Clemmons, who served as COO, has moved on to focus on other opportunities. We appreciate Rich’s many contributions to the Joint Center.

We’re looking for a talented Digital Media/Communications Coordinator to join our team. If you or someone you know is interested, please send a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and three references to info@jointcenter.org. Candidates will be interviewed on a rolling basis. Click here for a full job description.

On November 1, the Joint Center’s Black Talent Initiative & the NALEO Educational Fund will host a reception to celebrate our new diversity partnership, Staff Up Congress. The partnership will work to recruit talented Black and Latino candidates for leadership positions on Capitol Hill.

STEM Challenge: On October 10, US2020 launched a national STEM Coalition Challenge that offers resources to communities working to grow STEM Mentoring and opportunities for underrepresented students in STEM. Read more here.

Grow with Google: Google CEO Sundar Pichaie recently announced Grow with Google, a five-year commitment to invest $1 billion worldwide in workforce development and education nonprofits, 1 million Google volunteer hours, and a set of new Google programs aimed at helping students prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, assisting today’s job seekers with developing digital skills, and helping small businesses use technology that will allow them to grow. Read more here.

Cities Hope Self-Driving Vehicles Can Fix Transit Gaps: Most current transportation methods within cities are burdened with what’s known as the “last-mile” transit gap — the gap between rail stations and final destinations like employment centers or corporate campuses. According to data recently compiled by Bloomberg Aspen Initiative, over three-quarters of cities considering implementing autonomous vehicles believe they will lead to better commutes and expanded opportunities for those who lack access to their own vehicles. Read more here.

The Joint Center was founded in 1970 as the Black think tank (history here). Today, the Joint Center remains anchored in the Black community and collaborates closely with organizations from other communities. We focus on the future of work, the future of entrepreneurship, and the use of technology to improve quality of life in communities with significant African American populations. We also work to increase diversity among staff in Congress.